TN: Two from Pauillac

[chris kissack]

Lots of odd Bordeaux notes floating around at present following a number of dinners in Bordeaux during the primeurs week (all my 2009 notes except for Sauternes are now up on Winedoctor) and also down in London. Here are two lumped together purely on the basis of common commune:

Chateau Pedesclaux (Pauillac) 2004: This has to be the Pauillac estate with which I am least familiar. A rather gamey and smoky nose here, although it shows a good density of warm fruit. Moderate weight on the palate, a stony texture, with some soft and supple dark fruits here. Fresh and lively, with some sappy tannin. Rather a cool and relaxed style overall, but still a good showing from this estate. Tasted in London. 15.5+/20

Chateau Lynch-Bages (Pauillac) 1998: A very reserved fruit character on the nose at present, still showing some youthful linearity, and some dense, maturing, but tightly presented fruit. Rather iron-clad style, tight but with some good sweetness too. A broad density on the palate, plenty of substance, with huge, spicy, liquorice-tinged tannins behind the dark fruit. Impressive. Approachable now but it gives the feeling that it is still very much on the way up. Tasted over dinner in Bordeaux. 17.5+/20